Originally the Knights of Moleskine, Spirit & Ale.
"Puto, Bibo et sum Laetus" Dedicated to Thinking, Drinking and Being Merry!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Remember, remember the fifth of November

Remember, remember the fifth of November,The Gunpowder, treason, and plot,I know of no reason why gunpowder treasonShould even be forgot!

Much has been written here about Guy Fawkes (e.g. Tuesday, November 11, 2008).

According to several sources, Guy Fawkes (13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606), also known as Guido Fawkes, the name he adopted while fighting for the Spanish in the Low Countries, was a bad-ass who belonged to a group of Roman Catholics from England who planned the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Their aim was to displace Protestant rule by blowing up the Houses of Parliament while King James I and the entire Protestant, and even a bunch of the Catholic, aristocracy were inside.

The Gunpowder Plot was led by Robert Catesby, but Fawkes, the heavy, was put in charge of its execution.

Turn the page a few hundred years: Guy Fawkes Night (or "bonfire night"), held on 5 November in the United Kingdom, is a commemoration of the plot, during which an effigy of Fawkes is burned, often accompanied by a fireworks display.

A sidebar: Supposedly, the word "guy", meaning "man" or "person", is derived from his name.

Now, most of us in the U.S. don't "celebrate" Guy Fawkes Night; however, there is a Sir and Lady here in Southern Indiana who do. And they do it very well. I am officially declaring Sir Steve of Powers’ and Lady Mary Ann of Powers’ Guy Fawkes Night to be the GREATEST GUY FAWKES PARTYoutside the U.K. (Until I’m proven wrong, the KMSA seal is as official as it gets).

Lady Suzanne laughing at a little boy who is yelling, "Burn him!"This year’s party included copious amounts of English food and ales, the burning of Guy, fireworks, dodge ball for the kids (unrelated, but fun), and this year also featured an opera singer who just returned from New York auditions.

She sang, among other beautiful songs, Rusalka -- sung in Czech.Evidently, from what I could find about this Rusalka, a water nymph, bargains with the sea witch to become human so she can win the love of the Prince. But the deal is deadly. There was something about the moon in there, too. Well, you'll just have to research the rest yourself.

Let's just say that it was a perfectly eclectic end to a wonderful party.

A walk by the Ohio River later than night (actually early the next morning) capped off a most memorable evening.Sir Bowie found some Strongbow to bring to the festivities!

So, for one night and morning in Newburgh, Indiana, Old Knight friends and new friends got together for English ales and ciders, English food, burning of Guy, fireworks, opera around the campfire... basically a night of eating, drinking, and being merry!

Thanks Sir Steve and Lady Mary Ann of Powers!

Sir Bowie "who hopes to burn Guy for many years to come!" of Greenbriar

P.S. Here is one of the latest "Cooking with Beer" recipe. Fillet Mignon with butter peppers and onion in a "Fireside Nut Brown." 41 down/37 to go!

Funny to see the Strongbow in full display in the US... :) and as i said to Bowie the other day i really must track down some of that Fireside Nut Brown, sounds delicious

So while Oxford burned a Wicker Man, over the weekend (which we called Guy....cos the people decide what the people want to call things..) you guys were carrying on the centuries old tradition, unbroken for over 400 years. When the Founding Fathers and the ladies came to our shores, this summer just gone.. , indeed to my city of Oxford, the city's historical Museum, the Ashmolean, was closed for a $120 million dollar extention and improvement.

On Saturday 7th Nov the museum opened its doors, once more, and with them the 40 brand new rooms....... and best of all, back home to its owners, came one of the prides of the museum from where it had been on loan to the Houses of Parliament. Yes! the actual dark lantern that Guy Fawkes was holding when he was arrested and just about to light the fuses from it

you can see it if you click this link below, or you can google 'guy fawkes lantern' for even better pictures.

I popped in to see the lantern, in the afternoon, seeing as it was his weekend, and saw it in its brand new glass casement, a tangible piece of history, as we imagined his gunpowder grimed fingers grasping the lamp as he made his way into the dark cellars.

So lets hear it for the original Fall Guy and may the heat from winter bonfires warm your souls for many years to come.

Strongbow, Newcastle...it was all good...thank you to Sir and Lady Powers!

A wonderful night to remember with a wonderful husband and good friends - a true celebration of Fall and an English tradition - eclectic in that we also had Ava Maria sung around the bonfire - you had to be there!!Next year...

Welcome to Knights of Moleskine, Spirit & Ale

Founded in Evansville, Indiana on April 18, 2007, during the Cinco de Mayo Mini Beer Tour at Old Chicago, the Knights of Moleskine, Spirit and Ale are dedicated to Journaling, Drinking Good Beer and a Spirtual Way of Life. "Libertas de Juditium. Unitas per Variantia."

Sir Winston of Churchill, HM (d.1965)Sir Francis of Church, HM (d.1906)Sir Jack of America, HM (b.1922)Lady Anais of Santa Monica, HM (d.1974)Sir Ogden of Nash, HM (d.1971)Sir Bono of Dublin, HMLady Sheryl of Crow, HMSir Swells of Philly, HM (d.2009)Sir John of Avebury, HM (d.1913)Lady Noodle of HarperLady Flo of McClaySir Nuge of WarrickLady Alice of WarrickSir Ryan of WarrickLady Maegan of WarrickLady Lucy of KuhnLady Amy of RileyLady Mark of RileySir Fox of HopsSir Patrick of WilshireSir Ronald of BlystoneSir Timothy of BucksSir Christopher of WestoverSir John of ScudamoreSir Swamp of DauphineSir Joshua of RenoSir Robert of RioLady Jasmine of CastilloSir Edward of PhiladelphiaLady Kirks of CauldronLady Ton of BraggsSir Jingles of DeanSir Daniel of ErieSir Michael of BarkleySir Dinks of BlingSir John of ManhattenSir Duke of ConlinSir Tigger of KiddSir Kenneth of WoodwordPadre Ron of GuadalajaraLady Lisa of Bayard ParkLady Alexis of AlexandriaSir Liberty of MulberrySir Richard Lion Heart of BeaverSir Glenn of OlsonSir Cliff of StarbucksPadre Long John SilvaLady Cynthia of ThorncroftLady Lori of Lovers LaneSir Erik of RitterSir Ryan of KentonLady Maegan of StonehengeLady Delanie of DelwynSir Richard of WindsorSir James of Taylor

Lady Gwendoline of KensingtonLady Ulla of CrossbowSir Craig of MaxwellLady Carolyn of RichardsonLady Mag of EightSir John of DuartSir Ian of Tull, HMSir Valentine of BellowsLady Barbara of LakelandSir John of RosedaleLady Gina of RockawaySir Corithius of Crystal CourtSir Richard of MontrealSir Scott of ParadiddleSir Paul of LyonLady Sonja of ReinsSir William of KeglersSir Cock of the WalkSir Allen of WallSir Norman of William Nottingham CourtSir Jim of DublinLady Bex of IdlewoodSir Doc of EakinSir Lance of BrentwoodSir Joseph Gould of ExeterSir Seamus of MarionSir Bruce of WrigleyLady Tilly of OrangeLady G of Red BankLady Traci of PongSir Charles of WarrickLady Deja of Vu

Lady Holly of BreckenridgeLady Hussy of RobyLady Irina of DzerzhinskSir Joseph of DublinLady Meagan of DublinLady Hillary of BradentonSir Doros of CypressSir Lars of HarpslipsSir Steve of PowersLady Mary Ann of Powers

Sir Richard of Lancaster

Lady Mary Ellen of Lancaster

Sir Thomas of McGrath's

Sir Biscuit of Dauphine

Sir Rhyne of McCormick

Lady Kaley of McCormick

Sir Goose of Bayard

Lady Kathryn of San YsidroSir Jeremy of WorthingtonLady Saralicious of PolarisLady Jen of TonicSir Bruce of TennesseeSir Steven of Henderson, DMDLady Nayne of YorkSir Richard of LaureLady Meis of LaCentreLady Howard of PickeringtonSir Timothy of DunlearySir William of WonkaLady Rock of New HarmonyLady Sam I AmSir Eric of YorkSir Woody of LongSir Mick of FromeSir Paul of BeckingtonSir John of Somerset